How does voluntary foster care differ from local authority fostering?

Voluntary foster care is arranged through a voluntary-sector fostering organisation, whereas local authority fostering is arranged directly by the council responsible for children’s services. The legal requirements for assessment and approval are broadly the same, but the two routes can differ in how carers are recruited, how placements are sourced, who provides supervision and what wider services are available.

Assessment and approval

Whichever route you choose, you must complete a detailed fostering assessment. This normally involves background checks, health information, personal references, home visits, discussions about your household and preparation training. The assessment considers your ability to provide safe, consistent care and to work with the child’s family, social workers, schools and other professionals.

For a voluntary organisation, the assessment is completed for that organisation and the recommendation is considered through its fostering approval process. For a local authority, the assessment is completed within the council’s fostering service and considered through its own approval process. In both cases, an approved decision-maker is responsible for the final decision. Approval is not based simply on whether a person has a spare room or previous experience; the assessment looks at the whole household and the types of placements that may be suitable.

Where placements come from

A local authority usually considers its own approved carers when it needs a placement for a child in its care. A voluntary organisation may work with several local authorities, so it can put forward approved carers for placements commissioned by different councils. This may provide access to a broader range of placement requests, although no organisation can guarantee that a particular child or placement will be available.

The matching process should consider more than age and bedroom arrangements. Factors may include the child’s needs, relationships with brothers or sisters, education, identity, culture, religion, location and the carer’s skills and household circumstances. You should be given relevant information about a proposed placement and have an opportunity to discuss whether it is suitable before agreeing to it.

Support and supervision

With a voluntary organisation, you will usually have a supervising social worker or equivalent professional linked to the organisation. They can help you understand the child’s care plan, prepare for placements, complete required records and review how the arrangement is progressing. A local authority carer receives support through the council’s fostering team, alongside the child’s social worker and other professionals involved in the child’s care.

The exact support package varies between services. When comparing routes, ask about supervision arrangements, out-of-hours procedures without making assumptions about what is included, therapeutic or specialist advice, support groups, respite options, emergency decision-making and help with allegations or complaints. It is also important to clarify which issues are handled by the fostering organisation and which are handled by the child’s placing authority.

Training and development

Both routes involve preparation before approval and continuing development after approval. Training commonly covers safeguarding, attachment, trauma, managing behaviour, safer caring, first aid, recording information and working with families. The required subjects will depend on the children you are approved to care for and any specialist needs identified during assessment.

A voluntary organisation may offer training through its own programme and can sometimes arrange learning linked to the types of placements it accepts. A local authority provides training through its own fostering service or partner arrangements. Compare not only the initial training but also how future learning is identified, recorded and fitted around your household responsibilities.

Allowances and financial arrangements

Foster carers normally receive fostering allowances intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child. The amount and structure depend on the organisation, the child’s needs, the placement type and local arrangements. A voluntary organisation and a local authority may therefore have different payment policies, fees, expenses and eligibility conditions.

Ask for a current written explanation of the allowance, including what it covers, when it is paid, how additional costs are handled and what happens during planned breaks, introductions or changes to a placement. Do not compare a headline amount without checking whether it includes separate elements such as the child’s maintenance, a professional fee or payments for specific skills and responsibilities. Financial arrangements can also change, so they should be confirmed before you apply and before accepting a placement.

Choice of route

There is no universally better route. A local authority may suit someone who wants to foster for the council in their area and understand its local services. A voluntary organisation may suit someone who prefers the structure, training programme or support model offered by a separate fostering provider. The important point is to compare the actual service rather than relying on the label alone.

Before choosing, ask:

• Which children and placement types does the service usually need carers for?
• How are assessments structured, and what preparation is required before approval?
• Who will supervise you and how often will supervision take place?
• What training, specialist advice and peer support are available?
• How are allowances, expenses and additional payments explained?
• How are matching decisions made, and what information will you receive before saying yes?
• What support is provided if a placement becomes difficult or ends unexpectedly?
• How are concerns, allegations and complaints managed?

If you later decide that another route is more suitable, changing fostering services may be possible, but it is not an automatic transfer. A new organisation will need to review your circumstances, records, approval terms and training, and the move must be handled carefully so that any child in placement continues to receive safe and consistent care.